Liebster Award!

This is something I've being meaning to do for a while now, so today I've spared myself sometime to finally get round to answering the questions!

Firstly I'd really like to thank Catriona and Jessica for nominating me. I'm relatively new to blogging, so I think the Liebster Award is brilliant for getting your blog noticed by fellow bloggers who you can connect with and share your opinions.

The Rules:

1. Link the person who nominated you

2. Answer the questions given by the nominator 

3. Nominate 11 other blogger who have less than 200 followers

4. Create 11 questions for the nominees 

5. Notify all nominees via social media/blogs 

Catriona's Questions:

1. What is your favourite brand of Makeup?

I think I'd have to say Benefit. A lot of the products I buy are from Boots/Superdrug and are very well known high street brands in the UK, so for me Benefit is a bit of a splurge - with great quality cosmetics.

2. Which celebrity would you want to meet and why?

See this is always really tricky because would you want to meet your favourite celebrity and then they turn out to be a massive d*ck? I'd probably say Ed Sheeran because he seems so down to earth and lovely as well as insanely talented.

3. What made you want to start blogging?

It was honestly out of sheer boredom, I'd finished sixth form and was looking at applying for an apprenticeship so in the meantime I thought well I like giving advice, why not start a blog?

4. Who/ or what inspires you for your blog?

I don't think I really have any inspirations, I'll just suddenly think "Ooh yeah, that would be great to blog about" and hopefully somebody can connect with the things I've said.

5. Who are your favourite 3 bloggers?

Inthefrow

Sprinkleofglitter

Dizzybrunette3

6.What is your current favourite song and film?

I go through major phases with songs, but after hearing Paloma Faith singing Only Love Can Hurt Like This at the Brit Awards that has become a firm favourite at the moment. Film wise I'm going to have to say The Theory of Everything, I just knew I loved it that much when I felt compelled to do a post about it.

7. Where would you go on an adventure of a lifetime?

I'd probably do some travelling around either Europe or America's with my BFF's yo.

8. What would you do if you suddenly won £10 million?

This sounds sooo cliche but honestly lot's of charity work and I'd give back to my family. I'd also put some towards kick starting a career, though I have no idea what in yet.

9. What is your dream job?

Working in social/media digital marketing for a fashion/beauty business.

10. Your likes and dislikes?

Likes: My grans cooking and animals.

Dislikes: All the courgettes, ew.

11. A random fact about you? 

I can do a really weird bendy thing with my legs, I think it probably means they're really weak lmao.

Jessica's Questions:

1. What do you do for a living?

I'm currently doing an apprenticeship in digital marketing, it's full time and very tiring but I'm hoping to get a lot out of it.

2. What is your favourite thing to write about?

I just think anything I'm really passionate about, also anything that I feel would help someone really.

3. Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

Becoming the mother of dragons.

4. Who/What is your favourite singer/band/album?

Ed Sheeran - X

5. What do you like to do in your spare time?

Catch up with friends/family and watching TV shows/YouTube videos.

6. Why do you enjoy keeping a blog?

I think in the future it will be great for nostalgia purposes after documenting a lot of my life and I love conversing with fellow bloggers.

7. Where was your last holiday?

Does a school trip count? If so New York if not then Spain.

8. Do you believe in New Year Resolutions/Make any/Keep to them?

I mean I make them, but probably by the next day I'll have forgotten what it was.. Although this year I made the resolution to give blood which I will be doing in June.

9. What is your favourite perfume?

Benefit's Laugh with me Lee Lee.

10. Do you prefer Summer or Winter?

Now this one is tough. Being a January baby I've always loved the snow, but who doesn't like a nice warm summers day? Hm, I'll have to go with a sunny day in winter.

11. How long does it take for you to get ready in the morning? (beauty regime/make-up)

Oh dear.. lets just say probably longer than it should.

My Questions:

1. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?

2. What are your top 3 places you want to visit?

3. What is your all time favourite film?

4. Favourite childhood memory?

5. What is your staple makeup product?

6. Which 5 celebrities would you want to have dinner with? 

7. Favourite dessert?

8. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you have?

9. Which book inspires you the most?

10. Your most recommended TV series?

11. If you had a time machine, would you go back in history or to the future?

I Nominate:

Embrace the Light

Noir

Actually It's Auburn

Buttons and Blushes

Wild Maiden

Love, Leah.

Layla Rosita

Wild Heart Gypsy Soul

A step into my musical bubble

Lov-Opinion

Gemma Plumb

Victoria ♥

Mother's Day | No7

As it is Mothering Sunday in the UK today, I just thought I'd share what I bought my mum to treat her on this lovely occasion.

No7 is a brand by Boots and has been around for Donkey's years. It is a brand I know my mum swears by and because she doesn't wear make up that often anymore, I thought I'd treat her for when she does. 

Firstly, I'd just like to praise Boots for always having some sort of offer on which makes buying gifts a lot less stressful and financially draining. As someone who doesn't earn a very high wage, I can always find something to buy at a reasonable price.

Originally, I had just bought her the lipstick, nail polish and eye shadow (which I forgot to add in because I clearly have the organisation skills of the Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland.)

But due to the cost of the items and the amount I bought, I received a small discount and a little gift box too! This was filled with a primer, mascara, eye shadow and a lip crayon. What an absolute result!

My mum loved her gifts, especially the nail polish as it was similar to the colour of her wedding dress, but that's a different story.

Lastly, I just want to say Happy Mother's Day to all the brilliant mum's out there!

I hope you've being treated/are treating them well.

Victoria ♥

Dip Dye | From Blonde to Red

Yes, I know dip dye is "sooo 2010 yah" but I've never really been one to follow hair trends which means I just do whatever I can be bothered doing with it must of the time.
This also means I get hair envy of about every other person who walks down the street.

I know hair stylists would not advise doing this to your hair, you know damage wise, but because I've only done my ends my hair still feels pretty healthy and hasn't fallen out in chunks, which is always a bonus.

I had blonde ombre hair for about a year and I loved it for that year. But recently I felt like I needed a change, so red ends it was!

(This is how it looked before)

Firstly, I had to dye my ends back to my natural brown so my hair wouldn't go bright orange. 
It may look good on Hayley Williams but for me, not so much.

I used a hair dye which I found closest to my natural hair colour and luckily, it worked!

I only left my hair like this for a day (yikes) and then I proceeded to dye it red..

Taa-daah!

It's safe to say the colour has taken some getting used to but I love how vibrant it is.

I also thought it would be a good idea to dye it red now with Comic Relief coming up.
In sixth form we would dress up for charity days and I think doing things which gets more people involved in donating events brilliant.

I'll definitely consider dip-dying my hair another colour some time in the future, purple maybe?

Victoria ♥

Favourite Skincare Products | Origins

After hearing various bloggers and YouTubers rave about Origins skincare products, I knew I had to try them out. The idea of my skincare products being full of natural ingredients was a major incentive for me to try these products so, at Christmas, I received some sample items and I'm going to post my favourites.

GinZing Moisturiser

This moisturiser has definitely become a firm favourite of mine. I use this on a morning and the citrusy smell is great at waking me up from my early morning sluggish mood. I also love the fact that its oil free meaning my skin isn't built up with excess oils which I have found with some other moisturisers, cough Nivea.

Checks and Balances Face Wash

What I love about this face wash is that my skin does feel extensively cleansed after using it. This product is perfect on my combination skin and any excess oil around my T-Zone is removed and kept at bay for nearly the whole day, whilst my cheeks are kept in balance.

Modern Friction Scrub

I found it really weird using this product for the first time and I can only describe it as rubbing creamy sand onto my face. However, after using this scrub twice a week I can safely say I've noticed the difference in my skin and how vibrant it looks after using it. Any build up, which particularly enjoys invading my forehead, is significantly reduced leaving better and smoother skin in its place.

Clear Improvement Mask

I honestly can't praise this mask enough to be honest. I use it once a week, after my skin has spent the week fighting all the cosmetics I use and what a difference it makes. You don't even need to use this mask on the whole of your face, just on problem areas, and any redness/blemishes that you may have virtually disappear. It gets a 10 from Len. What are you on about Vicky you don't even watch Strictly?!

If anyone else has used any other Origins products with a good or bad experience please do let me know as they are slightly on the pricey side, but I'd love to try out some more.

Victoria ♥

5 Bag Essentials | Office Job

I have recently landed myself a new job as part of an apprenticeship scheme meaning I now work in an office. This is my first 9 'til 5 job since I left 6th form and I have found that organisation is key to not collapsing from exhaustion.

To help others who might also be new to their situation, I have compiled a list of what I believe are, for me, are essential items for working in an office environment.

Accessorize

(The bag itself is not on the list) but if you're someone, like me, who has to haul their laptop, charger and other large items around, then a big bag to carry it all in one is the way to go.

A travel mug/Flask

1. As I've got older I feel like I can't really go a day without a hot drink, preferably a tea. Since I'm too lazy to actually move from my chair to actually go make myself one at work, I feel it's more convenient to make one at home and take it with me. In the cold winter months it also really helps keep me warm while waiting for buses.

Card holder/Mini purse

2. If like me you have to use public transport to get to work, sigh, having a large purse can seem a bit excessive and a bit too much of a bag filler. A little money/card purse is much more convenient for carrying change for lunch and these purses are great for bus passes too. 

A Notebook

3. If you're more old school and don't trust technology to keep your notes safe and secure then a notebook is the way to go. On more than one occasion I've had laptops crash while I'm doing something important and if I didn't have my notes jotted down in a pad, I'd have probably had a meltdown to be honest.

A drink/snack

4. Keeping hydrated is very important so I recommend always keeping a bottle of water in your bag just in case. I also would keep a small snack in there too as I don't know about you, but as soon as lunch time rolls around my stomach decides to make noises which I can only describe as what I imagine an exorcism would sound like. If you like me also have this problem it's a good idea to keep a small snack to consume before hand to save A LOT of embarrassment. 

Lip balm

5. This isn't really an ESSENTIAL item but since my lips tend to dry out very quickly I find keeping a balm around very handy.

I also recommend keeping some chewing gum/mints around to evade coffee breath.

Victoria ♥

Learning to.. Knit?

Knitting is something I learnt to do from various older relatives as a child. As I have got older however, I have completely forgotten what I am doing. So, my gran has offered to help teach me again and.. here's one I made earlier?

This is by far from perfect but I'd say it's a decent effort considering I've only just started doing it again. My gran does keep telling me it's not rocket science, but I know full well there would be scientists who have a hard time getting their head around an Aran stitch.
I also know anytime I now watch a period drama, such as Call the Midwife, in the future, I'll definitely have that bit of added respect for any lady with a pair of knitting needles in their hands.
Whilst it may not seem all that easy at first, I must say it's a great way to wind down my brain and I often feel tired after a while meaning it would be great if anyone is the occasional insomnia sufferer like I am.

So if anyone out there is looking to try out a new hobby, I really do recommend trying to learn to knit whether it be from a family member/friend or even just a YouTube tutorial.

Victoria ♥

P.S. if you're a beginner and not too great at first don't worry it takes time but I don't recommend drinking wine whilst doing it as you may get a bit hot and bothered/a bit weepy.. note to self Vicky, oops..

Film Recommendation | The Theory of Everything

Last weekend I went to the cinemas, with my mum, to go see The Theory of Everything, a film about the relationship of Stephen Hawking and his then wife Jane. 
The film progresses through his university education, diagnosis of motor neuron disease and the ups and downs that occured throughout their marriage.

I was honestly just so captivated by this film when I saw the trailer in the cinemas and I knew I had to see it as soon as it came out. 

The reason I recommend this film is the simplicity of it and how it is able to portray humanity at its most vulnerable. Due to the films fictional aspects, I was worried I would find the film rather upsetting at the time, but I truly found it uplifting the whole way through. I was also surprised at comedy aspects that featured quite a few times which I also feel helped the film stay shockingly up beat at times and personally, not as heart wrenching as I had imagined (the British stiff upper lip and all that). The film shows the courage of Stephen and Jane, especially on her part and how despite all that was against him with the progression of his disease, he still managed pursue his desire to study physics and become one of the most well known physicists in the world. 

Both actors play their roles amazingly and at times I complete forgot I was watching Eddie Redmayne and felt like I was watching Stephen himself.

I can safely say The Theory of Everything is definitely one of the most beautiful films that I have watched in a long time and strongly urge anyone to go watch it while it is still out in the cinemas.

Victoria ♥